Station-indicator



(Modl.)

B. 0. BRANCH. STATION INDICATOR.

ITT-II.

ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. Fhoco-Lxmagmpnnr, washingwn. D. C.

llNrrnn Slrafrss BENJAMIN O. BRANCH, OF FRIARS POINT, MISSISSIPPI.

STATION-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,439, dated August 9, 1881.

Application filed June 4, 1880.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN O. BRANCH, ot Friars Point, in the countyr of Coahoma and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and uset'ul Improvement in Station-Indicators, ot' which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in a novel construction and arrangement of devices, whereby provision is made for displaying in the cars the names of stations on a railway.

ln the 'accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional view, longitudinally ot the car, illustrating my invention. Fig.2 is a vertical section at right angles to Fig. l.

- Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents a frame supporting the \vork ing parts of the invention. In each ot the two opposite sides ot' the frameA is a groove, B, the middle portion otl which descends so as to form two sides of a triangle. I

C is a bar, having its ends formed to tit the grooves B. There are in each apparatus a number ot' these bars C, corresponding with the number of stations on the road, and each bar has suspended from it a card bearing the name ot' a station on both sides of said card.

At the three points of the triangle are three rollers, D, around which passes a band or apron, E, carrying bars G.

ln the upper part ofthe frame A is a doubleacting pawl, H, suspended from a frame, J, arranged to slide in ways in the frame A. The frame J is provided with springs t', which have a tendency to hold it midway of the frame A, and it has cords attached to it, so thatit may be pulled in either direction.

The bars G, carrying the cards containing the names of stations, are hung in the grooves B, and have springs K arranged to press them in the desired direction.

At the points where the grooves B turn downward to form the trian gular portion there are stops consisting of vertical bars L, provided with springs M, which serve to arrest the bars C, and allow them to be moved one at a time.

In using this apparatus the bars containing the cards being arranged at one end of the grooves B, the pawl H is arranged as shown (Model.)

in the drawings. On approaching or arriving at a station the engineer, conductor, or other employ on the train pulls the cord so as to move the pawl H toward the right-hand side of the drawings. This moves the band E around the rollers D, causing one of the bars G to carry one ot' the bars C down the inclined portion ot' the groove to the lowest point of the triangle. At the next station another bar C is moved down and the first one moves up the opposite side of the triangle, and from thence to the opposite horizontal portion ot' the groove. When the bars C have all been moved from one side of the triangle to the other the pawl H is reversed, so as to be ready for use in the opposite direction.

If desired, wires may be substituted for the grooves B t'or the bars C to travel on.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a station-indicator, the combination ot' the endless belt, having a triangular movement, and the sliding bars C, carrying the station-cards, with the frame A, provided with the grooves B, whose middle portions form two sides ot' a triangle, and the means for operating the said belt, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a station-indicator, the combination, with the l'rame A, provided with the groove B, the sliding bars G, provided with the stationcards and the springs K, of the endless belt E, provided with bars G, the sliding frame J, the pawl H, and the springs i, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a station-indicator, the combination, with the trame A, and the sliding hars C, earrying the station-cards, ot' the spring-actuated stops L, arranged at the points where the grooves B ot' the frame turn downward, whereby the movement ot' the sliding bars is arrested and the bars allowed to be moved one at a time, substantially as herein shown and described.

I BENJAMIN O. BRANCH.

Witnesses:

D. A. COOPER,

WM. A. ALcoRN. 

